Freshwater Fish of the Northern U.S. & Canada

1. Freshwater Fish of the Northern U.S. & Canada Joel Berry Topic # 1164 E

2. Freshwater Fish of the Northern U.S. & Canada

3. Key Focus Points • Correctly identify 7 species of fish • Know 2-3 distinctive traits of each fish • Correctly label the anatomy of a fish

4. What are some examples of common freshwater fish?

5. CATFISH • Binomial Name: Ictalurus punctatus • Native Range: From Canada to Mexico • Habitat: Catfish prefer deep rivers and lakes. • www.eopb.org

6. CATFISH • Food Choice: Catfish are considered scavengers that eat mostly animal matter. • Catfish are identifiable by their; barbels that are often called “whiskers”, thick skin instead of scales, and bony spines found near each gill plate and one located on the back. • www.xanga.com

7. LARGEMOUTH BASS • Binomial Name: Micropterus salmoides • Native Range: Eastern United States and Canada • Habitat: Quiet lakes and ponds with plenty of aquatic plant life • www.krisweb.com

8. LARGEMOUTH BASS • Food Choice: Bass prey mainly on aquatic animal such as minnows. • Largemouth Bass are identifiable by the large horizontal black line down its side and for the jaw that extends beyond the eye. • www.droppinaline.com

9. SMALLMOUTH BASS • Binomial Name: Micropterus dolomieu • Native Range: Southern Canada to the Central United States • Habitat: clean flowing streams and shallow lakes • www.wdaweb.com

10. SMALLMOUTH BASS • Food Choice: Like its close relative the largemouth, the smallmouth feeds on small fish. • Smallmouth can be identified by their brownish color and yellowish green color sides • www.dnrec.state.de.us

11. WALLEYE • Binomial Name: Stizostedion vitreum • Native Range: Canada and the Central U.S. • Habitat: rivers, lakes, and pools that are clear and have brushy banks • www.gov.mb.ca

12. WALLEYE • Food Choice: most often includes minnows and small perch • Walleye can be distinguished by their amazing night vision. The tapetum lucidum is a light gathering tissue that allows walleye to hunt their prey at night. • www.wildlifedepartment.com

13. PERCH • Binomial Name: Perca flavescens • Native Range: Canada to Northeastern U.S. • Habitat: ponds, lakes, rivers, and deep pools • www.assabetriver.org

14. PERCH • Food Choice: Perch feed mostly on aquatic insects and small minnows. • Perch are fairly smaller in size averaging only 4-10” and have vertical bars down their sides. • www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca

15. PIKE • Binomial Name: Esox lucius • Native Range: most of the continental U.S., Canada, and into Alaska • Habitat: marshes, ponds, rivers, and lakes, that have heavy vegetation • www.wdaweb.com

16. PIKE • Food Choice: Pike prey mainly on other fish including other pike. • Pike can be identified by their sleek body that is built for speed and massive jaws that can swallow prey whole. • cwr.ucdavis.edu

17. BLUEGILL • Binomial Name: Lepomis macrochirus • Native Range: Canada to Mexico • Habitat: ponds, swamps, lakes, and pools with heavy vegetation • www.ligtel.com

18. BLUEGILL • Food Choice: Bluegills feed mainly on aquatic vegetation and fry • Bluegills have an elaborate mating ritual and are often referred to as “panfish”. • www.kentuckyawake.org

19. Conclusion • While these fish coexist in the same habitats they demonstrate amazing diversity within themselves. • Continue on from this lecture by further investigation of distinguishing traits. • *Hint* - practice labeling the anatomy of the fish